Crystallized Oranges

I was looking for something to decorate the cake I am taking to my sister in law (let’s call her V) on Sunday.  She is very eco-conscious and would not appreciate crappy plastic Santas and bunches of holly.  I do not agree with her on everything, but I am right with her on this one – look tacky and bad for the planet.

So I thought I would use crystallized orange slices and cinnamon sticks.  I took at quick look at them on Amazon and virtuously decided against that – partially because a small bag was £11.

So for £2 I bought a bag of oranges.  I sliced them quite thinly, blanched them in water to remove any bitterness, and then gently simmered them in a syrup of 4 to 3 sugar to water for half an hour.  Then I dried them on oiled baking parchment for 24 hours.  They look and taste rather nice, so for Christmas I am going to make another batch and dip them half and half in dark chocolate.  These are even more excruciatingly expensive on Amazon.

Beside these is a bowl of dried fruit soaking in brandy ready to be made into a Christmas Pudding come Sunday.